The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off today, Thursday June 11, with Mexico hosting South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. It will be a special moment for both Mexico and South Africa.
Kickoff is at 3pm ET on FOX. It is the opening match of the tournament and one of the most anticipated games in recent World Cup history.
Below we have our best Mexico vs South Africa player props and same game parlay picks, with all odds from Lucky Rebel sportsbook.
Mexico vs South Africa Match Details
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026
Kickoff: 3:00 pm ET
Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Tournament: FIFA World Cup 2026, Group A
TV: FOX (English), Telemundo (Spanish)
This fixture carries a special weight. The two sides met in the opening game of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where Siphiwe Tshabalala’s stunning opener was cancelled out by Rafael Marquez to leave it 1-1. Sixteen years on, the roles are reversed. Mexico are the co-hosts this time around, and they go in as heavy favorites in front of what is expected to be a packed house of 80,000 fans.
Will we see another 1-1 tie, who knows?
Mexico vs South Africa Player Props Picks (Lucky Rebel Odds)
Player props offer the best value in this matchup. Here are our three top picks for June 11.
Raul Jimenez Anytime Goalscorer
A lot of bettors will gravitate toward Santiago Gimenez given the attention he received at AC Milan, but the smarter play in the player props market is on Raul Jimenez. The veteran forward has 125 caps for Mexico, more than any other active player in the squad. He scored in both the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup finals in 2025, and has netted ten times in his last 17 international appearances. He is confirmed as the starter and is expected to handle set pieces too, which gives him additional opportunities to score. Lucky Rebel prices Jimenez at solid value in the anytime goalscorer market, making him our top Mexico vs South Africa player prop pick today.
Pick: Raul Jimenez Anytime Goalscorer (Lucky Rebel)
Brian Gutierrez Goal or Assist
The 22-year-old Chivas midfielder has been one of the standout performers in Mexico’s pre-tournament friendlies. Gutierrez scored against Ghana and grabbed an assist against Serbia in their 5-1 win on June 4. He is expected to start in central midfield and has been right at the heart of Mexico’s attacking play throughout their buildup. With form like that heading into a home World Cup opener, the goal or assist market at Lucky Rebel looks like great value.
Pick: Brian Gutierrez Goal or Assist (Lucky Rebel)
Lyle Foster Anytime Goalscorer (Long Shot)
On the South Africa side, Lyle Foster is the one player who poses a genuine scoring threat. The Burnley forward has ten goals in 26 appearances for Bafana Bafana and scored against Jamaica in his side’s final warm-up game. South Africa are underdogs here, but Foster is their focal point going forward and represents the best long-shot option in the player props market. At the generous odds Lucky Rebel is offering, he makes a nice bonus leg if you are building a parlay and want to increase your potential payout.
Pick: Lyle Foster Anytime Goalscorer (Lucky Rebel)
Mexico vs South Africa Same Game Parlay Picks
Here is our recommended same game parlay for Mexico vs South Africa, with all legs available at Lucky Rebel.
Leg 1: Mexico to Win (-225)
Mexico have just about every advantage going into this game. Home crowd, altitude, superior squad depth, and excellent recent form all point in one direction. El Tri are unbeaten in eight games heading into the tournament, with results including a 0-0 draw with Portugal, a 1-1 draw with Belgium, and that emphatic 5-1 win over Serbia. Anything other than a Mexico win would be a major surprise. They are -225 on the moneyline at Lucky Rebel.
Leg 2: Under 2.5 Goals (-120)
World Cup opening matches have historically been tight. There have been under 3.5 goals in 12 of the last 15 tournament openers, which goes back to England’s 0-0 draw with Uruguay at Wembley in 1966. South Africa’s warm-up form was poor, with a goalless draw against Nicaragua and a 1-1 stalemate with Jamaica. A controlled Mexico win without a high goal count is the most likely scenario. Under 2.5 goals at Lucky Rebel makes sense as a parlay leg here.
Leg 3: Raul Jimenez Anytime Goalscorer
As outlined in the player props section above, Jimenez is the confirmed starter and takes set pieces. With ten goals in his last 17 Mexico appearances, his inclusion in this same game parlay as a third leg gives it a strong foundation while boosting the overall payout meaningfully.
Same Game Parlay: Mexico to Win + Under 2.5 Goals + Raul Jimenez Anytime Goalscorer (Lucky Rebel)
Mexico vs South Africa Betting Preview
Mexico go into this game with serious momentum. Under manager Javier Aguirre, they have gone unbeaten in eight matches in 2026 and won both the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup in 2025. Playing in front of a home crowd at Estadio Azteca, a venue that has hosted two previous World Cup finals, the pressure and expectation will be intense but also energizing for El Tri.
South Africa arrive as the underdogs. Manager Hugo Broos has faced a difficult buildup, and the team’s performances in their warm-up games left a lot to be desired. Their 0-0 draw with Nicaragua was flat, and while they managed a 1-1 draw with Jamaica in Pachuca, Broos was openly frustrated with the display. Having said that, South Africa did top a qualifying group containing Nigeria, so they are not without quality. They will look to be organized and hard to break down.
The altitude in Mexico City at roughly 2,240 meters above sea level is another factor in Mexico’s favor. It is a well-worn advantage that El Tri have used in previous World Cup home games, and it is one more reason the sportsbooks have them as firm favorites.
Mexico vs South Africa Picks Summary
Here is a quick rundown of all our picks for today’s World Cup opener, with odds from Lucky Rebel sportsbook:
- Raul Jimenez Anytime Goalscorer – Our top player prop pick
- Brian Gutierrez Goal or Assist – Strong value in Mexico’s midfield
- Lyle Foster Anytime Goalscorer – Best long-shot prop for South Africa
- Same Game Parlay: Mexico to Win (-225) + Under 2.5 Goals (-120) + Raul Jimenez Anytime Goalscorer
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